Harry Kanes heroics allow England to escape Congo scare and reach World Cup Round of 16

SAN JOSE, Calif.— Joy sandwiched by anxiety is about as profoundly English as anything, and so how fitting was Wednesday afternoon?The Three Lions escaped Atlanta 2-1 victors over Congo thanks to an utterly heroic Harry Kane brace, their best-ever player scoring what was surely his best-ever international goal in beating a trio of defenders before a cracking 86th-minute finish past Lionel Mpasi.Before that, it was nail-biting.

Afterward, too, given what awaits in the Round of 16, when England travels to face Mexico in front of one of the sport’s greatest backdrops, a roaring Estadio Azteca that 40 years ago was the scene of England’s most famous World Cup defeat.That match Sunday night in Mexico City has every chance to be an epic occasion, the sort of scene to put an already terrific tournament over the top.Mexico won all three of its group games and cut through Ecuador on Tuesday night, riding the crowd, Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez to a 2-0 win that set off street celebrations deep into the night as far north as San Jose, mere blocks from the U.S.

men’s national team’s hotel.The joy at play there was a contrast from how England has felt this entire tournament, the release of Kane’s magic moments Wednesday aside.Every match of the FIFA World Cup will air on either FOX or FOX Sports 1.If you don’t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial to stream it all.Prefer to check out the action live and in person? Shop World Cup 2026 tickets on SeatGeek and make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout if you’re a first-time SeatGeek user.From leaving off Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Adam Wharton — a decision by Thomas Tuchel that has been questioned before, during and after all four of England’s games, and perhaps the loudest Wednesday — to things as relatively menial as how the North American heat has turned into a daily storyline in the British press, it all feels a bit like the pre-Garet...